‘Plebs’ minister Andrew Mitchell blags a Jaguar…so aide collects bike

THE perks of pleb row minister Andrew Mitchell began to emerge yesterday —
along with new claims about his arrogance and rudeness.

He demanded a £60,000 Jaguar limo when he was made Chief Whip two weeks ago.

And when the 56-year-old Tory uses the car instead of his bike, a flunky will
be ordered to wheel the cycle to him.

Even his coffee mug was emblazoned with “Secretary of State for International
Development” to brag about his former top job.

Vote in our plebiscite*, right

*That’s the Latin for people’s (pleb) referendum (scire)

And the millionaire is known among Government officials as “BSD” — after
branding himself the “Big Swinging D***”.

Yesterday it emerged his Jag request was granted even though David Cameron had
introduced a strict ban on junior ministers having limos to save taxpayers’
cash.

Mitchell’s Cabinet predecessor had not been given a Government car and
chauffeur.

But incredibly Mitchell said he needed one — and will use it for his 200-yard
commute from his No9 Downing Street office to the Commons. Sources say he
got his BSD nickname after once storming into Tory HQ ranting: “Why am I not
on the bloody front pages? Don’t you know I’m the Big Swinging D*** around
here?”

The Chief Whip made an aide collect his bike with a wicker basket from Downing
Street the day after the foul-mouthed rant at cops that resulted in the
Gate-Gate scandal and calls for him to be sacked.

Using the Jag means Mitchell will be swished through Downing Street’s main
gates — rather than having to take his bike via the side entrance. Being
told to do that last Wednesday night led to his rage at SO6 officers. They
allege Mitchell branded them “f****** plebs”. Further allegations about his
“obnoxious” behaviour also emerged yesterday.

The arrogant MP once told his Permanent Secretary that he expected all male
officials to wear jackets and ties at all times.

When senior staff told him that formal clothes were not always practical, he
insisted that at the very least ties should be worn by everyone at meetings
he attended.

Despite this, Mitchell would sometimes hold meetings in his office without
shoes on while still wearing his bicycle clips. Mitchell also insisted staff
should address him as “Secretary of State”.

One official said: “He could be cantankerous and aggressive. He was a horrible
person.”

Our latest revelations about the ex-banker’s arrogance will only weaken his
precarious position further. Police bosses renewed their attack on Mr
Cameron for refusing any probe on the incident that has rocked Westminster
for five days now. The Sun broke the story last Friday.

Labour yesterday hiked the pressure on the PM by branding it “a cover up”. And
Tory backbenchers said the PM was “weak” for not firing Mitchell already.
Downing Street tried and failed yet again to draw a line under the scandal.

Sources revealed last night that Mr Cameron had summoned Mitchell to his No10
study on Thursday for a dressing down. He then made Mitchell “look him in
the eye” and promise he had not used the derogatory word “pleb”.

The Chief Whip pleaded for his job and the PM took him at his word without
looking at the bombshell police report.